Knowledge Share Description
This knowledge share draws from the short film Tarpuna, Keepers of Cacao. Part I: Water, which follows protectors of the forest, the river, the seeds, and the ancestral knowledge that sustains cacao cultivation in Ecuador’s subtropical Andean Chocó. Through their voices, participants are invited to understand cacao not only as a crop, but as food, medicine, and cultural memory, and as a vital part of the land that Indigenous communities continue to defend.
Together, we will trace the deep history of cacao in the Ecuadorian Amazon—home to the oldest known cacao remains, dating back 5,000 years—and examines the role of pre-Hispanic Indigenous cultures in its domestication and in the preparation of cacao-based beverages. This historical grounding helps situate contemporary trends, such as “cacao ceremonies,” within broader conversations about cultural representation, food marketing, food gentrification, and the ecological impact of industrial cacao production.
Participants will also reflect on their roles as consumers. The session includes practices for developing sensory and emotional awareness around cacao, as well as guidance on interpreting popular labels on cacao products—highlighting how these labels influence sustainability, food sovereignty, biodiversity conservation, and the defense of Indigenous lands.
Date: Sunday March 15, 2026
Time: 3:00pm – 5:00PM EST
Cost: FREE for Living Library hbc members | Sliding Scale $45, $65, $90 for Non-members
We will explore:
the ecological and cultural significance of cacao in the Andean Chocó and the Ecuadorian Amazon
the historical origins of cacao, including the 5,000-year-old archaeological evidence from the Amazon region of Ecuador
the contributions of pre-Hispanic Indigenous cultures in the Americas to cacao’s domestication and its diverse cultural uses.
contemporary “cacao ceremonies” within a broader historical, cultural, and regional context
common cacao-related labels and certifications in terms of sustainability, sovereignty, and biodiversity
foundational sensory skills for tasting cacao and distinguishing its qualities
Understanding of the ecological challenges posed by industrial cacao production, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, and land degradation
Recognition of Indigenous leadership in defending the land and protecting cacao as an integral part of territorial and cultural preservation
Who this Knowledge Share is For
Students and educators in anthropology, ecology, food studies, Latin American studies, Indigenous studies, or environmental humanities
Professionals in food systems, including chocolatiers, cacao growers, food producers, sustainability specialists, and chocolate lovers
Community members and activists interested in restoring relationship to cacao, environmental justice, and Indigenous-led land defense.
Practitioners of wellness or ceremonial spaces who want to engage with cacao in a historically and culturally informed way
Participants will leave with
Enhanced awareness of Indigenous knowledge systems and their ongoing role in cacao cultivation, preparation, and cultural meaning
Practical tools for recognizing ethical, sustainable, and sovereignty-supporting cacao products
A deeper appreciation for the power of storytelling that accurately reflects history, place, and people
Cost
$45 - low income
$65 - standard
$90 - pay-it-forward (if you have financial abundance, this is our pay-it-forward option to fund our full tuition scholarships)
For more information on sliding scale please check out this amazing work!
The zoom link will be sent upon registration. Recording will be available for 30 days.
Please apply here for a scholarship.
or access this knowledge share for free by enrolling as a member of the Living Library
Living Library HBC
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Accessibility Information
Virtual Gathering
*ASR (automated) captioning provided
The knowledge share zoom link will be sent out immediately upon purchase, along with any other necessary information.
Sunday December 8, 2026
3:00pm - 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time
Class will be recorded and available for 30 days. This means you can join from anywhere in the world.
Facilitator
Pilar Egüez Guevara, PhD is an Ecuadorian cultural anthropologist, writer and award-winning filmmaker. Over the past 20 years she has lived, worked and carried out research and community-based projects in and about Ecuador, Argentina, Brazil, Cuba and the United States. She is co-founder and director of Comidas que Curan (Foods that Heal), an independent food education and media company dedicated to researching and promoting traditional foods and knowledge through ethnographic research and film. Her award-winning documentaries have been screened in three different languages across North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Through her research, public speaking and films, she amplifies the voices of older men and women who are the bearers of traditional knowledge about food and medicine in Latin America. She has brought this work to communities in Ecuador through filmmaking and research education projects, as well as to US college students in the United States through film screenings and lectures. She is a published author and speaks internationally on topics ranging from cultural history, food heritage, health, nutrition and conflict transformation. She is currently Visiting Assistant Professor in Latinx Studies at Mt. Holyoke College. Learn more about her work at http://www.comidasquecuran.org.